More than 40 million Americans visited Europe last year, checking out amazing cities, fascinating history, cultural icons and dazzling landscapes.
In 2024, the number of US travelers visiting Europe surged, with 40.2 million Americans flying to the continent. As travelers increasingly seek out unique destinations, certain European countries have seen a rise in popularity, with Western and Central Europe emerging as key favorites.
Here’s the top 10, according to Travel and Tour World:
St. Ives, Cornwall, England. Matt Jessop/Visit Cornwall Photo
United Kingdom
I’ve been lucky enough to visit all of them, and they’re terrific. England is, of course, home to London, which is one of the great cities of the world. Other great offerings include the lovely coastlines and villages of Cornwall, which I explored in 2022, as well as the pastoral Cotswolds, which I also got to visit in 2022. My wife and I also explored Scotland that year, touching down in Edinburgh, Glasgow, and the marvelous Isle of Arran. We were in Northern Ireland 12 years ago and loved visiting Belfast and also the northern coast, including Giants’ Causeway. I was only in Wales once, and that was for a Toronto Star golf magazine story in 2006 or so, but I thought it was beautiful.
Germany
This is a country I have only limited experience with, and I don’t quite know why. I was in Munich for a day a few years ago, and I’ve spent a few hours in central Frankfurt and a few hours in Passau on a river cruise, but that’s it. I did enjoy Munich, and I thought Passau was quite pretty. But the rest of the country is a blank slate for me.
The Cirque du Gavarnie in the Pyrenees Mountains of France. ATOUT FRANCE PHOTO
France
Now, this is a country I can talk with more authority about. I’ve had many trips over the years to Paris, the French Riviera, Bordeaux, the Dordogne Valley and the southern region along the Pyrenees, as well as personal visits many years ago to Chablis and Burgundy. It’s an unforgettable country with wonderful cuisine, gorgeous hilltop villages (Saint-Cirq-Lapopie is a fave), rugged mountains, amazing wine, great beaches and one of the most romantic and beautiful cities in the world.
Netherlands
I had a great cycling trip in the Dutch countryside a few years ago, checking out not only Amsterdam but also Edam and Volendam. Each village seemed prettier than the next, and the cycling was almost always on flat, easy terrain.
Modena, Italy is famous for its balsamic vinegar. The gelato is equally impressive. JIM BYERS PHOTO
Italy
Another country I’ve seen a great deal of, including Rome, Florence, Turin, Naples, Palermo, the Emilia-Romagna region, the Cinque Terre, the isle of Capri, the island of Ponza (so striking), and much more. My wife and I had a great stay at a vrbo property in Rome earlier this year.
Spain
I wish I could say I’ve seen a lot of the country, but I haven’t. I’ve been to Barcelona twice, the most recent visit being a four-hour tour off an MSC cruise ship in March of this year. I’ve also been north of the city on a driving trip to the Costa Brava that included a fabulous, short visit to beautiful Tossa del Mar. I also spent a couple days in Valencia back in 2009 or so, and thought it was a striking city with great food. The rest? Nada.
Slieve League is a magical spot in northwest Ireland, with the highest sea cliffs in Europe and no crowds. JIM BYERS PHOTO
Ireland
My wife and I had a wonderful visit to Dublin and Galway a few years ago, also stopping in for a night at Adare Manor. We also took in the sights of the Cliffs of Moher and, even more impressive, Slieve League in County Donegal. I liked Dublin, but felt more comfortable in Galway, which is much smaller.
Turkiye
Again, I haven’t seen much of the country. No Capadoccia. No Izmir. But I’ve been to Istanbul twice, most recently last November for a board meeting and convention of the Society of American Travel Writers. It’s a magnificent, historic city with so much to offer, including the 6th century Hagia Sophia church, now a mosque and museum. I also loved the overwhelmingly beautiful Basilica Cisterns; underground water storage areas with soaring archways and, as of late, modern art installations that seem to float in the water. I had a magnificent stay at the Peninsula Istanbul when I was there recently, and also a nice stay at the Conrad Istanbul and the Hampton by Hilton Istanbul Sirkeci, which offers nice, stylish rooms for less than $150 CAD per night.
An alpine lake in Engelberg, Switzerland. JIM BYERS PHOTO
Switzerland
I haven’t been to Ticino (the Italian region) or Geneva, but I’ve spent a fair bit of time in Zurich over the years, and also in Lausanne, which I dearly love for its Lake Geneva/Lac Leman views and hillside terraces covered with grapevines. Zurich is a very underrated city with lovely architecture, summer swimming platforms and a lively nightclub and cocktail bar scene in West Zurich. I visited Grindelwald and the glaciers after university, and I was in Bern and Basel (also underrated) in 2021. I also had a couple days in the gorgeous mountains around Engelberg.
Portugal
Lisbon is one of my fave cities on earth, with terrific food, lively cafes and fun neighborhoods to explore, including wonderful Alfama. Don’t miss the city’s famous, creamy custard tarts, known as pasteis de nata, and be sure to take a short trip out to see the magical castles in Sintra. We rented a home in Burgau (in the western Algarve) a few years ago and loved it. It’s a small community that has terrific seafood and traditional Portuguese restaurants, as well as a nice beach and exhilarating hilltop hikes. You’re only a short bus ride from the popular city of Lagos, where you can shop or try a sea kayak ride that can take you into tranquil caves.
